Adapter for container openings



FeB. 24, 1959 M. SETHNE ETAL 4,

ADAPTER FOR CONTAINER OPENINGS Original Filed Dc. 2a, 1954 INVENTORS MAGNE SETHNE INGVALD SKORGE fim 3 [ATTORNEYS United States Patent ADAPTER FOR CONTAINER OPENINGS Magne Sethne, Oslo, and Ingvald Skorge, Moss, Norway,

assignors to Persil-fabrikken A/ S, Oslo, Norway, :1 Norwegian company Original application December 28, 1954, Serial No. 477,966, now Patent No. 2,801,771, dated August 6, 1957. Divided and this application June 24, 1957, Serial No. 667,545

Claims priority, application Norway January 6, 1954 i 4 Claims. (Cl. 222-543) The present invention relates to improvements in adapters for container openings, and more particularly to an adapter comprising a sleeve-like insert for a container or mouth opening for fitting a tube to the container and an accompanying stopper for closing the sleeve-like insert when the tube is removed or when the container is in transport.

This application is a division of the applicants pend ing application Ser. No. 477,966, filed December 28, 1954, 7

of the container and arranged to receive a tube or a device carrying a tube when the stopper is removed.

The pending application discloses a device for dispensing a definite quantity ofliquid froma container, including a cup for receiving the liquid from the com tainer and a tube connected into the cup and mounted in the adapter of the present invention fitted to the mouth of the container.

Since the container with the dispenser device mounted thereon would always be open, which is unsuitable for transport of the container, the adapter of the present invention includes a band attached to the sleeve-like insert having an attached stopper for closing the opening in the insert either when the container is in transport or when the dispensing device is removed from the adapter. In order that the stopper may be easily lifted from the sleeve-like insert, it is provided with a length of band or a tab that extends from the stopper with a free end. By catching hold of this free end of the tab or band, the stopper may be easily lifted from the sleeve-like insert mounted in the mouth or opening of the container.

The adapter, comprising the sleeve-like insert and connected stopper is particularly useful with containers from which it is desired to pour definite small quantities of liquid, such as a liquid detergent, for use in dish water. When the purchaser obtains a container of detergent carrying the adapter with its-stopper, he has only to lift the stopper from the sleeve-like insert of the adapter and insert the tube of a dispenser device. When the dispenser device is removed from the container, the stopper is readily at hand for insertion into the sleeve-like insert.

The adapter of the present invention is described more in detail hereinafter in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is an elevational view partly in vertical section of an adapter constructed in accordance with the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a broken elevational view partly in vertical section showing a container carrying a dispenser device fitted thereto by the adapter shown in Fig. 1.

Patented Feb. 24, 1958 Referring to the drawings, the adapter made of some what resilient material comprises a sleeve-like insert 7 having an opening 8 therethrough of somewhat conical shape and of smaller diameter at the top than at the bottom. The adapter includes a stopper 910 be forced into the opening 8 and thereby held tightly therein because of the conical shape of the opening. The stopper 9 is connected to the sleeve-like insert 7 by means of a band 10, so that the stopper accompanies the sleeve-like insert and the container to which the adapter is fitted, in the manner shown in Fig. 2. The stopper 9 has a flange 11 which abuts over and rests on the top of insert 7. The band 10 is connected to the flange 11 of the stopper. The flange 11 opposite the position of the band 10 is provided with a band or lifting tab 12 having a free end, by means of which the stopper may be easily pulled out of the opening 8 of the sleeve-like insert 7.

Fig. 2 shows the adapter fitted to the opening or mouth of a container 13 with the flange 14 at the top of the sleeve-like insert 7 resting on the rim of the container opening. The band 10 is illustrated as attached to the flange 14 and extends outwardly in Fig. 2 carrying the stopper 9, while a peripheral bead 15 at the lower portion of the sleeve-like insert 7 extends under the lower rim of the opening in the container, as shown. Since the adapter insert is made of resilient material, it is readily fitted-into the container opening.

In Fig. 2 the adapter is illustrated in connection with a liquid dispenser 16, including a cup 17 and a tube 18, the latter extending into the sleeve-like insert 7, so that the dispenser 16 is fitted to the container 13. The opening 8 in the sleeve-like insert 7 is somewhat smaller than the outside diameter of the tube 18, so that the tube may i be forced into the sleeve-like insert 7. Because of this and the shape of the opening 8 the dispenser 16 is fitted: or adapted firmly to the container 13.

The stopper 9, which is always at hand for closing the opening 8, is illustrated as comprised of a. cup-like structure adapted to be engaged firmly in the opening 8 when it is desired to close the container, after the dispenser is removed. When the containers are shipped, they are advantageously shipped with the adapter in place with its stopper inserted in the opening 8 of the sleeve-like insert 7.

While the adapter of the present invention has been described and illustrated in connection with the use of the dispenser 16 having a tube 18 fitted in the adapter, it is to be understood that the adapter may be used for fitting some other tube or device to the opening or mouth of a container.

Containers and devices fitted thereto are usually of relatively rigid material, such as glass or metal, and, there. fore, the adapter device of the present invention is ideally suited for adapting a tube or device to the mouth of a container and at the same time provide a stopper fitting the sleeve-like insert for use in closing the container, either in transport or after removal of the device fitted to the container by the adapter.

We claim:

1. In a container having a mouth opening, an adapter fitted into and projecting into the mouth of the container for receiving and fitting an external dispensing tube to the container, said adapter comprising a sleeve-like insert of resilient material fitting in the mouth of the container and having an opening therethrough for receiving the dispensing tube to be fitted to the container, the opening in said sleeve-like insert having a conical shape from bottom to top in the region projecting into said container with its smaller diameter at the top for firmly engaging and fitting the tube to the container, a flange projecting bandiattached by oneend tosaidflange onthe sleeve-like insert, a stopper having a projecting stopper flange at the top attached to the other end of the band, said stopper having an open top cup with saidstopper flange projectingilaterally'fromsaid cup, said-cup fitting in the opening er the slee'veelike insert with said stopper flange resting on the flangexof the' sleeve-like insert,- and a: lifting tab attached to the edge of the flange .ofthe stopper opposite the pointof its attachment-to the band.-

.2; In a container having a mouth opening, anadapter fitted ,in' the month of the container :for receiving and fitting ainexternal dispensing tube to the containensaid' adapter comprising a sleeve-like insertof resilient niat erial fitt'ing in the mouth of the container and having an opening there'through for receiving the dispensing tube to be fitted to the container, a flange projecting laterally from? the upper portion of the insert and resting on the rjim of theicolitainef mouth, an outwardly projecting preformedibeadwatthe bottom-of the insert engaging-under the inner rim of the container inouthythe adapter includingta bandattached by one end to-said flange onthe sleeve-like. insert,- a stopper having a projectingstopper flangeratthe top attached to the' other end of the-band,- said isto'pper having an open top cup with said stopper flange projecting laterally from saidtcup, said cup fitting infthe opening of the;sleeve-likeinsert-with the stopper fia'ngeresting on thefiangeiof the sleeve-like insert,. and adifting'. tab attached to the edge ofythe flange of the stopar. opposite the point of its attachment to the band.

3. In a container having a mouth, opening, an adapter fitted .into; andaprojecting, intolthe mouth of the container for receiving and fitting an external dispensing tubeto the xcontainenwsaid adapter comprising a sleeve-like insert'jofresilient materialfitt'in-g-in-th'e rnonth'of the eontainerandhaving an openingtherethrough for receiving the;.dispensi'ng tube to be" fitted to the container, the opening in .said sleeve-like inserthaving a conicalasfiap from b'ottomto top in1the region projecting into said container with its smaller-diameter at the top, a flange pro: jectingla'terally fro'mthe top portion of the insert and restinggofn the rim of the-container mouth, a dispensing tube ofsomewhatlarg'er'diam'eter than the normal open ing. in the insert fittedin the opening and firmly" adapted to the, container because of itssize and the conical shape of the" openinginthe insert, the adapter including a. band attached by one end to saidflange on the sleeve-like insort, a stopper having a projecting stopper flange at" the top attached to the other end of the band, said stopper having an open top cup with said stopper flange projecting laterally from said cup, said stopper being shaped to fit its cup into the opening of the sleeve-like insert with the stopper flange resting on the flange of the sleeve-like insert when the dispensing tube is removed and the stopperis used, and a lifting fab" attached to' the edge or the flange of the stopper opposite the point of its attachment to the band for easily removing the stopper from the insert;

4'. -Ina container having a mouth opening, an adapter fitted into and projecting into the month of the container for receiving and fitting an external dispensing tube to the container, said adapter comprising a sleeve-like insert of resilient material fitting in the mouth of the container and having an opening therethrough for receiving the dispensing tube to be fitted to the container, the opening insatds1eeve-like ins'er't' having'a conical shape from bottorntd topinthe region p rojectirig'into said container with its smaller diameter at the top for firmly engaging and fitting the tube to the container, 2. 'flan'g'e projecting laterally from the top of the insert and resting on the rim of the" container rn'outh, an outwardly projecting pie formed beadat the bottom of the insert engagingunder the inner rirri ofth'e c'onftainer mouth, the adapter in eludi g a Band attached by oneend, to said flange ntire sleeve-like insert, a' stopper having a projecting stopper flange at the top attached to the otherlen'd of the band, said stopperhaving an open top cupwith said stopper fla p i i n l ra y name we s wp intheyopening' r sai'deie ve-lik insertjwith the sto per flan t s n he fl nge ot he l e -l ke ta d' a lifting tab attached tethe edge of the flan e of the stopper, opposite the point of its attachment to the band.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Netheiland Aug. 15, 1956 

